Method and machine for making vulcanized fiber



May 15, 192s. G. W. TEMPLE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING' VULGANIZEDFIBER Filed May 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Shee. 1

A' RNEYS,

May 15, 192s. 1,669,429

G. W. TEMPLE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING VULCANIZED FIBER I Filed May24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M ZID INVENTDR:

,f1/E5 WITNEssEs: I

@morge W'Tanplo,

Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITE-D STATES GEORGE W. TEMPLE, 0F FLUSHING, NEW YORK. v

METHOD AND MAcHINn Fon MAKING vULoANIznn FIBER.

Application med may 24,

This invention relates to a lmethod and means for manufacturing aproduct ordinarily known as liber through plying and vulcanization offibrous sheet or web mate-` rial such as paper. In machines heretoforedeisgned for this purpose, the fibrous base material-paper, after havingbeen run through a bath of vulcanizing solution, was continuously builtor plied upona revolvin cylindric mandrel until the desired thicknesswas obtained in the product. Thereupon, the ber was out from themandrel; and in order to convert it into a flat sheet, had to besubjected to very high pressuresusually applied by hydraulic means-#forremoval of the curl inherent in it as a consequence of. havin beenformed on the cylindric surface of t e mandrel. The flattening treatmentjust referred to caused severe strain on the fibers, oftenresultingeither in transverse fracture, longitudinal splitting or*separationk between plies or layers, or buckling ofthe product, thesetendencies obviously becoming more'pronounced with increase in thethickness.

The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulties above pointedout: in' other words, I aim'to enable direct manufacture of the fiber,i. e. without necessitating subsequent llattening, and to provide a verysimple and reliable apparatus whereby this may be continuously andexpeditiously accomplished.

In the drawings, Fig. I is a side elevation of a er making machineconveniently embodyi g my invention. r

Fig. II is an elevation of the machine, as viewed from the left hand endof Fig. I, with portions broken away and in section in accordance withthe arrows II-II in the latter figure.

. Fig. III`is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure; yand Fig.IVis a diagrammatic view showing successive positions of the mandrelupon which the ber is built:

With reference first more particularly to i Figs. I and III of, theseillustrations, it will 4 be observed that the fibrous web W which is toconstitute the base for the product to be manufactured, is drawn from asupply roll 10 which is supported for free rot-ation between bearingstandards 1.1 afforded by the side frames 12, 12 of the machine at oneend. From the supply roll 10 the web W passes 1927. Serial No. 193,755.

to avat 13 supported at a higher elevation by laterally projecting arms14 of the side.`

frames 12, said vat containing a suitable vulcaniamg solutionsuch asordinarily employed 1n this art. A series of guide rollers 15, 16 and 17serve to insure travel of the n web immersed in the solution; and a pairof directional rolls 18, 19 cooperate through g impartation of a slightdrag or tension, to

remove the excess solution from the web as 1t leaves the vat. Therollers 16-19 are all carried by a frame 20 having pivotal connectionfor upward swinging about the axis of the roller 15 for convenience ininitially threading, the web W in the machine. The now saturated web Wproceeds overa transverse guide roller 21 with journal bearings in theside frames 12, 12, and then about and under a weighted pressure roller22 resting upon v'the winding mandrel 23. This mandrel 23 has fiat sidefaces, and in the present instance is hollow and square in crosssection. A pair of arms 24, 24 pivotally suspended from a transverseshaft 25 extending between the side frames 12, 12 of the machine at thetop, are slotted at their lower ends to engage trunnions 26, 26projecting axially from opposite ends of the' mandrel 23. These arms 24serve to move the mandrel23 back and forth, swinging movement beingimparted to said arms 24 by virtue of slotted engagement with rollers 28eccentrically mounted on discs 29 which revolve in openings 30 in theside frames 12, see Figs. II and III. yAxed to the discs 29 are wormwheels 31 which are enclosed in housings 32secured exteriorly of theside frames 12 anddriven by worms 33 (Fig. I) at the lower ends ofvertical shafts 34. The shafts 34 are in turn driventhrough bevel gearcouples 35 from 4a horizontal shaft 36 journalled in appropriatebearings 37 on a horizontal bridging memberf 38 connecting the sideframes 12, 12 of the machine at the top. At its mgiddle, th shaft 36carries a worm wheel 3 arranged to be driven, at reduced speed, by aworm 4() on the shaft of an electric motor 41 which is also mounted onthe bridgingmember 38.

At all of its eight corners the mandrel 23' is equipped with rollers 42adapted to ride on horizontal tracks 43 projecting inward from theopposite side frames 12, 12 so as to define horizontal travel vof saidmandrel under the action of the arms 24 in moving quence,

forward to the right from the full line position in Fig. IV. equipped atall eight corners with cupped lugs 44, whereof the rearmost ones at thetop are adapted, incidental to movement of the mandrel 23 toward theright, to en age fixed stops 45 that project inward rom plates 46 boltedto the in-sides of the machine frames12, 12, see Figs. II and III. Asthe mandrel 23 reaches the forward limit of its horizontal movement inthe direction just referred to concurrently with the enagementof thecupped lugs 44 with the xed fulcrum stops 45, the rollers 42 at thattime at the lower right hand corners drop from the tracks 43-as shown indotted lines in Fig. IV -and onto auxiliary curved tracks 47 havingtheir centersof curvature co-incident with the stops 45, so that duringrearward movement of the arms 24, said mandrel is obliged to swing aboutthe .fulcrum stops 45-as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. IV,being thereby caused to turn lthrough an angle of ninety degrees beforeit again assumes the full line position in the illustration lastmentioned. During the latter part of the return movement of the mandrel23 toward the left, the rollers 42 riding on the curved tracks 47encounter a pair of spring urged arms 48, forcing them rearward untilengaged'in the shoulders 49 of said arms, as shown in full lines in Fig.IV. Upon initiation of the next forward movement ofthe mandrel 23 towardthe right,

the arms 48 serve, with 'the 'assistance of helical tension springs 50to which they are subject, 42 to the level of the straight tracks 43.

In order to permit free up and down movement of the roll 22 to insureuniform application of pressure and to accommodate the turning of themandrel 23 corners beneath it, its shaft ends are mounted in journalblocks 51 guided in vertical slots of the plates 46 reviously referredto.

From igs. III and IV it will be noted that the trunnions 26 of themandrel 23 are tubular for capacity to serve as passages forintroduction and exhaust of steam. or other heating medium into thefollow interior of said mandrel. Flexible steam supply and exhaust tubesor conduits 53, 54 are connected to the trunnions 26 by swivel couplings55 so as not to interfere with or retard movements of the mandrel 23,see Fig. II. Any other suitable means may be employed for maintainingthe mandrel 23 heated to expedite vulcanization of the ber.

In the operation of the machine, as the mandrel 23 moves to the right inFigs. III and IV, it is confined to horizontal travel by the straighttracks 43, and as a conseits upper face is progressed in true along astraight line beparallel relation 22. This roll neath the floatingpressure roll to lift the rear lower corner rollers` The mandrel 23 isfurther 22 in following the dictates of the mandrel 23 is obliged torevolve thus drawing uponv the web W to lay and at the same time resa iton the top face of, said mandrel. I fter havin reached the limit of itsmovement towar the right, the mandrel 23 is turned clockwise, aspreviously explained, through a quadrant about the corner angle at thattime beneath the roll 22, with consequent presentation to the latter, ofthe succeeding face for repetition of the laying and rolling operationdescribed above. Such rotation ofthe mandrel occurs after each forwardpass so that the o eration is continuous, the draft upon the we W beinguniform except perhaps for the interval consumed in rounding corners.After ,the operation has been carried on to the desired extent, thefiber is cut along the corner edges of lthe mandrel 23 and removed insheets that are perfectly dat, entirely devoid of imperfections and in acompletely finished condition. It is to be particularly noted that byhorizontal passage of the mandrel faces successively beneath theweighted roll 22, the plies are subjected to uniform pressure incidentalto application of the fibrous base web surface or internal W so that theplies are firmly compacted to a uniform thickness of said faces.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating ioating pressure roll, and' means to move the mandrel backand forth for passage of its upper face horizont-ally beneath thepressure roll, and means to rotate the mandrel at intervals forsuccessive `presentation of' its faces to the pressure roll.

2. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating fioating pressure roll, meanstomove the mandrel back andforth for passage of its top face horizontally beneath the pressureroll, and means to rotate the mandrel after each such ass forpresentation of a succeeding face to the pressure roll.

3. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating floating pressure roll, means to move the mandrel back andforth for passage of its top face horizontally beneath the pressureroll. and means to rotate the mandrel about an. upper corner angle as anaxis after each such pass for presentation of a succeeding face to thepressure roll.

4. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating oating pressure roll, means to move the mandrel back andforth relative to the pressure roll, means to determine horizontaltravel of the mandrel when moving in one direction for passage of itsupper face in a straight line beneath the pressure roll, and

throughout the extent ya succeeding face to the sure roll, a track todetermine horizontal travel of the mandrel when moving in one directionfor passage of its upper face in a straight line beneath the pressureroll, and means operative during return movement of the mandrel torotate it for presentation of a succeeding face to the pressure roll.

, 6. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating floating pressure roll, means to move the mandrelback andforth relative -to the pressure roll, tracks cooperative With cornerrollers on the mandrel to determine horizontal travel of the latterlwhen moving in one direction for assage of its upper face in a straightline eneath the pressure'roll, and

.means operative during return movement aov of the mandrel to rotate itfor presentation of a succeeding face to the pressure roll.

7. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating floatingpressure roll, means to move the mandrel back andforth relative to the pressure' roll, means to determine horizontaltravel of the mandrel when moving in one direction for passage of it-supper face in a straight line beneath the pressure roll, fixed fulcrumstops to engage corner lugs on said mandrel as the` latter reaches thelimit of its movement in the direction aforesaid and about which it isobli ed to rotate during the return movement/ `or presentation of asucceedingface to the pressure roll.

8. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating floating ressure roll, means to move the mandrel. ack andforth relative to the pressure roll, a horizontal trJack to guide travelof the'mandrel'when moving in one direction for passage of its upperface in a straight line beneath the pressure roll, and acurved track toguide the mandrel inci-` dental to rotation during return movement forpresentation of a succeeding face to the pressure roll. a

9. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, vacooperating floating ressure roll, Jmeans to move the mandrel ack andforth relative to the pressure roll, a horizontal track to guide travelof vthe mandrel when moving in one direction for passage of its upperface in a straight line beneath the pressure roll, means to determinerotation of the mandrel about its rear upper corner' angle as an axisduring the return movement, and a curved track lto concurrently guidethe diagonally opposite swinging corner angle of the mandrel.

10. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flatside faces, acooperating floating pressure roll, means to move the mandrel back andforth relative to the pressure roll including a pair of oscillating armsslotted to engage axial trunnions on said mandreland rotary means forswinging said arms, means to determine horizontal travel of the mandrelwhen moving in one direction for passage of its upper face in a straightline beneath the pressure roll, and

means, means to determine horizontal travel of the mandrel when moving1n one direction for passage of its upper face in a straight linebeneath the pressure roll, land means operative during the returnmovement of the mandrel to rotate it for presentation of a succeedingface to the pressure roll.

12. A fiber making machine comprising a mandrel with flat side faces, acooperating floating pressure roll, means to move the mandrel back andforth relative to the pressure roll, horizontal tracks to support cornerrollers at the bottom of the mandrel when moving in one direction forpassage of lts -upper face in a straight line beneath the pressure roll,fulcrum stop means to engage upper rear corner rollers of the mandrelincidental to dropping o f the rollers at leading lower corners from thetracks aforesaid to determine rotation of said mandrel, and means toengage'the rollers at the swinging corners of the mandrel as the latterapproaches the limit of its return movement to automatically raise themto the level of the tracks aforesaid.

GEORGE w. TEMPLE.

. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto

